Case Keenum (4), left, and Matt Paradis (61) share a moment before the start of the first Denver Broncos preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Aug. 11, 2018 in Denver.

1. Broncos center Matt Paradis had not missed a regular season snap in his 56-game career until suffering a broken fibula and ligament damage last week against Houston. He underwent surgery Wednesday. Paradis is scheduled to be a free agent in March, but there are plenty of reasons to believe the injury won’t impact his value.

2. The 2019 free-agent center class is thin. Paradis, Carolina’s Ryan Kalil and Kansas City’s Mitch Morse lead the group. That will push contract values north, because the demand will exceed the supply. Plus, Paradis’ injury happened at a point when teams (including the Broncos) should not be concerned about his availability for the start of training camp.

3. Signing rehabilitating players isn’t the norm, but it isn’t completely uncommon. Last March, Chicago signed receiver Allen Robinson to a three-year, $42 million contract ($26 million guaranteed) even though he had played only three snaps for Jacksonville in 2017 because of a torn ACL. The Bears managed Robinson through the offseason program/preseason. Robinson has missed time this year with a groin injury.

4. Helping Paradis’ value, should he decide he wants to stay with the Broncos, is their desperate offensive line situation. The Broncos have questions at all five positions. Left guard Ron Leary (Achilles) is out, right tackle Jared Veldheer (knee) has missed four games, left tackle Garett Bolles has been inconsistent and right guard Connor McGovern was nearly replaced because of uneven play but got his spot back after Leary’s injury. The goal of free agency is to fill roster holes, not create them by letting guys leave.

5. Paradis should be the only in-house free agent the Broncos talk contract with before January. Nose tackle Domata Peko, outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, tight end Jeff Heuerman and defensive lineman Zach Kerr should be in the plan, but not until management knows what kind of scheme will be used.

6. After the Kansas City game, coach Vance Joseph hinted at “options” for left tackle, intimating that Bolles is fighting for his spot. Paradis’ injury probably eliminated that option. Billy Turner, the backup swing tackle against Houston, is expected to compete with Eli Wilkinson to play right guard now that McGovern moved to center. Said Joseph of McGovern: “I have no questions that he’ll do a good job for us.”

7. Last Monday night was not one of former Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas’ finest moments. Appearing on a radio broadcast partner of the team (I’m guessing that did not go unnoticed), Thomas was critical of the coaching staff’s communication with him (or lack thereof), whined about losing playing time to rookie DaeSean Hamilton in the Jets loss (ever heard of a playing-time rotation?) and complained about not being voted a captain (players don’t need a “C” to lead). Joseph was understandably disappointed but took the high road by saying it was time to “move on.”

8. Joseph took particular umbrage to players not having a say in the game plan. “Our players have the right and the openness to share what they want,” he said. Each Friday after practice, the Broncos’ quarterbacks walk the length of the field with offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and other coaches, game plan in hand, going through the script of plays. If Case Keenum isn’t comfortable with a certain route combination, it gets tossed.

10. If Darian Stewart (neck stinger) returns against the Chargers after missing the last two games, the Broncos have a logjam at safety. Justin Simmons has played every defensive snap this year, Will Parks has filled in adequately for Stewart and Su’a Cravens joined the mix against Houston.

11. The Broncos know what Stewart can and can’t do. They should use him in a rotation with Parks and especially Cravens. Over the final seven weeks, the Broncos must decide whether Cravens is a player they can move forward with.

12. Joseph said the Broncos’ nickel run defense (five defensive backs on the field) has been “horrible.” Adjustments may have been addressed against the Texans. Houston had only three rushes for 8 yards against nickel personnel. The Broncos opted for dime (six defensive backs) as their primary sub package, which allowed them to play the more-agile-than-a-linebacker Cravens in run support.

13. Joseph also mentioned third-down and red-zone offense as being “average.” The Broncos are at 35.3 percent on third down (41-of-116). An area that must improve is third-and-short (1-3 yards to go; they are only 18-of-30).

14. In the red zone, the Broncos were an awful 9-of-19 in Weeks 1-5, but 5-of-7 in the last four games. During the current stretch, Keenum has completed only 3-of-9 passes, but for two touchdowns.

15. One subplot this week is how the Broncos work cornerback Bradley Roby into the lineup after he missed the Houston game (ankle). In an effort to try everything, the Broncos should move Roby to cover the slot more often, which would allow Chris Harris to travel with a top receiver and get more playmaking chances.

16. The Broncos’ 28 sacks for by down: Seven (first down), six (second down), 14 (third down) and one (fourth down). Their 24 sacks allowed by down: Four (first down), six (second down), 13 (third down) and one (fourth down).

17. Running back Phillip Lindsay’s 591 rushing yards were sixth in the league entering Sunday’s games. He deserves offensive rookie of the year consideration. A key for Lindsay will be the Broncos’ prime-time games against Cleveland and Oakland in Weeks 15-16.

In the latest First-and-Orange podcast episode, Broncos beat writers Ryan O’Halloran and Kyle Fredrickson break down Denver's priorities over its final two games eliminated from playoff contention. Topics include: Is a Vance Joseph firing inevitable? Which players have the most to prove Monday night against the Raiders? What led to this lackluster season?

I'm going to go against the grain and make the case to keep Vance Joseph for one more season. Last year, the Broncos were rarely competitive. This season, they were a few plays here and there from being 9-4. VJ has shown tremendous growth as a head coach. Last season's Broncos were marred by holding penalties, delay of games, too...